Project 'Sh4rk'

[Enright]

Hahaha, great "prod" Dave, and an equally witty response Geoff!

But on a slightly more serious note about the badge (dare I say) "snobbery" issue, it IS a criticism that Lotus themselves have taken note of AND reacted to.

When we visited the factory for the tour last year, they made a point of telling us how they re-badge all their engines as Lotus now, even though every man and his dog knows they are made by Toyota. Simply because that's what customers prefer to see.

It doesn't bother me too much, because I think that it hints at better reliability. I quickly got bored of all the "Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious" jokes.
Oh and FWIW, my fave car ever (which is also a Lotus) has a Vauxhall badge on the bonnet. One day...

[Doc Fizzix]

even though every man and his dog knows they are made by Toyota. Simply because that's what customers prefer to see.

Most likely the same reason Lotus started selling valve covers here in the States that said only "Lotus". You can still get the original cover but they offered the other for those who preferred one that did not say "Isuzu". I actually removed my "Lotus" only valve cover and bought an original one that said "Isuzu-Lotus" but it is all your own personal tase, I just like the way the original one looks

[chris.t]

actually neil didn't the blocks have yamaha cast on them

[nitroman]

This has to be quick & so won't be perfect as I'm using the net access from the hotel lobby in Orlando, Florida...

When I 1st saw an Elan & test drove one new on the dealer lot in '91 I NEVER even thought about what kind of engine it had; I just thought it was the coolest looking car I had EVER seen and that it outdrove/outhandled the other 5 sports cars I drove (as I was in the "market" for one at the time). It simply outclassed anything else that was available, at ANY price. What was under the bonnet never came into question.

I do remember looking under the bonnet but the only things I can remember are the "turbo" script on the heat-shield and the fact that some small parts had already rusted from the car sitting outside on the dealer's lot. I have no memory from that time what was on the cam-cover so that played no part in my decision-making process.

[isuzuimark]

mine says eff all

[Elanlover]

Remember that the heart and soul of your M100's are all ISUZU. That is blasphemy.

Not that I'm trying to be impolite but if you think the "heart and soul" of the M100 is that engine, you obviously don't understand what the Elan is all about. Probably should stick to Isuzu's which don't resemble Elan's in any fashion at all.

Lotus sticks all kinds of engines in their cars (after improving them mind you). Why? Because the engine isn't what makes a Lotus a Lotus. Would you say the heart and soul of the Elise is a Toyota part?

"Thats what I thought"

[chris.t]

i think the heart of any car is the engine - but what is the soul?

[Paul.P]

Totally agree with Elanlover here, a lotus is much more than the engine, although ive no problem with any engine thats in there, just that the whole is far more than any of the parts !

[Costas]

Just to add my 2 cents,

I mentioned quite enough that the engine is proved to be buletproof and with an amazing perfomance, when tuned, that can outgun the majority of exotic cars out there.

BUT!

1. I would never let the Elan Go away from me, no matter what, would never change it with any other car.
2. Wouldnt give a damn to replace the engine with another one. Have thought about Honda and Mitsu Evo. Honda cant fit, MitsuEVo can.

As mentioned above, the Lotus Elan is NOT about the engine.

Will post pictures of what I ve doen this past month during this weekend.

Cheers, got to go now, have to go feel the speeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!

[chris.t]

thanks costas - brought it back to what it's all about

[nitroman]

Having just driven 1000 plus miles in the last few days in a FWD car with almost exactly the same power-to-weight-ratio as my Elan I have to concur the Elan is NOT about the engine at all. Sure the power is great, but what is power without poise & control? Isn't precision and ease of use why we pay a premium for almost any commodity? Well then, I just had an instant reminder of why I paid more for the Elan. Sure my other car will power down the road passing most all in sight, but my gosh you'd best have a good grasp of that steering wheel lest you learn the meaning of torque-steer and become fast-friends with the fellow in the next-lane!

The Capri "on steroids" is fine in town, but my next road-trip will be in the Elan.

[Doc Fizzix]

Many times I ve been asked what I have done with the remap of the engine. I tried to explain that the chip is an addon hop-up mounted on top of the stock one that overides it and not just a replacement chip. My technical vocabulary and knowledge on this area is very poor so I never managed to explain it properly.

We recently are experimenting more advanced chips and I had the chance to snap a photo of the wierd thingy, so I hope it helps.



Costas

Is this a chip you had made at the shop by your techs or was it purchased some where?

[GeoffSmith]

It's been cannibalised! The original memory sits in the holder on the RHS and is covered by the rest of the pale blue cover. It looks to me like the original memory has been removed and an adapter has been inserted (possibly to take a different/larger memory). The cover has then been chopped in half and placed over the limp home hybrid which sits on the LHS. Check out this picture of a virgin MEMCAL, unashamedly plundered from ESM's website.

For the Mountain upgrades, the MEMCAL is inserted into an adapter whose memory is used in place of the MEMCAL memory; this way, the MEMCAL does not have to be changed in any way.

Geoff

[Costas]

Is this a chip you had made at the shop by your techs or was it purchased some where?

No it wasnt purchased, it was made by DSP, and it works fine for 4+ years now. Costs just 5-10 Euros, so there you go. I am not replacing it for all the macho branded chips in the world, that little thingy is the most awesome piece in that engine.

[nissias]

when buying a Lotus u r NOT buying a car that is fast only at a straight line speed. Buying a Lotus is being fast everywhere, on corners, hills, and driving a car with handling superior to anything else. That's why Lotus is the No.1 name in handling in the world.

Being fast is easy, being fast where others can't... that's what's special about it
...and you need a Lotus for that!

[desmondsee]

hi costas,

i have always had troubles with cooling with higher boost, gets worst especially with the stop go traffic here and the boiling daily temperatures.

Any advise you can give to the mods you have to make to keep the optimum running temp in your car?

Cheers

[nitroman]

hmm... Speaking as a Florida native & taking holiday the last 2-years in the Everglades & south; the Elan should never overheat if both electric fans are working... even at 105F in super-high humidity, which is probably similar to your weather. City driving is not really a case of high-boost affecting cooling, don't you agree?

The only Elan cooling problem I ever saw was in a blue-car with one non-operating fan. Also you can keep the temp down in stop-and-go driving by running the A/C. That causes both fans to run even though you have not reached the thermal-cut-on point. You could likewise install a lower-temp thermal-switch.

[Costas]

hi costas,

i have always had troubles with cooling with higher boost, gets worst especially with the stop go traffic here and the boiling daily temperatures.

Any advise you can give to the mods you have to make to keep the optimum running temp in your car?

Cheers

What I have done is preety simple

1. Removed A/C
2. Installed 2nd Oil Cooler, inline with stock one and same as stock one.
3. Use AMSoil
4. Kept Stock Intercooler

The engine temperature is not just low, but actually its too low that we are thinking of installing a "temperature switch" that will activate or bypass the second Oil Cooler.

Other than that, the car still runs PERFECTLY, on daily basis, and with ZERO problems for over 1 year. All I do is check water and oil from time to time. I AM A HAPPY MAN!

I am deeply sorry for not beeing able to keep up with the forum lately but I am my work is dominating my time.

I have replaced the Suspension on all 4 wheels with a new Fully adjustable racing one, no idea of details since I just drove the car to DSP, told them to do the job and picked up the car 2 weeks later after the tested it on racetrack. All I care is that the car turns on rails even faster!

Hope you all are in good health and ENJOY your Elans, YOU HAVE TO, dont keep em in the garages!!!!

Cheers

Costas

[alainmarty]

hello what type of strut insert you have? or do you hae the dimension? best regards

[Costas]

hello what type of strut insert you have? or do you hae the dimension? best regards

Whats a "strut"? I really dont know...